Hoisting device

ABSTRACT

A hoisting device for use in well logging and including a frame having a winch mounted thereon, a fixed sheave mounted to one side of said winch and an oscillating sheave mounted on the other side of said winch, cable on said winch extending around said oscillating sheave and underneath said winch to said fixed sheave, and another sheave mounted for swiveling movement about an axis passing generally through said fixed sheave, said cable extending from said fixed sheave to said other sheave and then toward the well bore.

United States. Patent [72 Inventor Charles F. McGinty Houston, Tex.

[21 1 Appl. No. 735,233

[22] Filed June 7, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971 [73} Assignee Schlumberger Technology Corporation New York, N.Y.

a corporation of Texas [54] HOlSTlNG DEVICE 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 254/190, 242/ 157.1 [51] 1nt.Cl 866d H36 [50] Field of Search 254/150, 166,186,135,190,173,139.1;242/157.1; 214/517 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,473,628 6/1949 Allison 254/190 2,630,299 3/1953 Troche 254/190 3,083,932 4/1963 Crowley 254/190 3,203,673 8/1965 Norris 254/173 3,292,904 12/1966 Trubenback 254/173 782,103 2/1905 Bruner 242/ 1 57.1 2,795,396 6/1957 Davidson... 254/1 39.1 3,034,674 5/1962 Bertoglio 214/517 FOREIGN PATENTS 224,298 1 1/1962 Austria 254/190 249,899 8/1926 Italy 254/190 Primary ExaminerHarvey C. Hornsby AttorneysErnest R. Archambeau, Jr., Stewart R Moore, David L. Moseley, Edward M. Roney and William R.

Sherman ABSTRACT: A hoisting device for use in well logging and including a frame having a winch mounted thereon, a fixed sheave mounted to one side of said winch and an oscillating sheave mounted on the other side of said winch, cable on said winch extending around said oscillating sheave and underneath said winch to said fixed sheave, and another sheave mounted for swiveling movement about an axis passing generally through said fixed sheave, said cable extending from said fixed sheave to said other sheave and then toward the well bore,

PATENTED ms Ian 3.558104 Cfiar/ar F. M: G/nfy INVEN'I'OR.

BY 424 M ATTORNEY HOISTING DEVICE This invention relates generally to mobile hoisting devices used for raising and lowering objects. and more specifically. to a mobile hoisting structure having particular utility in well logging operations where instruments are suspended at the end of a cable in a well bore.

In conducting various well logging operations. for example. production logging. various measuring instruments are suspended in a well bore on an electrical cable and raised and lowered by a winch works on a special purpose vehicle commonly known as a logging truck. The truck houses the various recorders and the like for constructing a permanent record of the measured properties together with depths below the earths surface at which the measurements are taken. From such measurements. valuable information can be .compiled re garding flow characteristics. temperatures. pressures and the like.

In the past. the cable has been fed directly from the winch to a logging sheave located over the well bore. For apparent reasons. fairly accurate alignment of the longitudinal axis of the truck with the well bore axis has been required to ensure proper spooling of the cable onto and off of the winch. However. due to the myriad of equipment normally located around a drilling rig, and particularly due to crowded conditions which may be present in offshore drilling barges and platforms. it has not always been convenient to align the truck with the well bore in a proper manner without first having to shift other equipment around. Moreover. it was heretofore necessary to locate the truck a substantial distance away from the logging sheave to enable proper spooling of the cable in side-to-side movement of the winch.

A broader object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved mobile hoisting structure having particular utility in well logging operations, the structure being constructed and arranged so as to obviate the need for accurate alignment with the well bore. The Thus. the hoisting structure may be placed at any of a number of random positions in the vicinity of the well bore in available space, and due to the unique construction of the present invention the cable will always be properly spooled onto and off of the winch during a logging operation.

The present invention may be summarized from a conceptual standpoint as a mobile hoisting apparatus comprising a frame on which a winch means is mounted for paying out and taking in cable. A first movable sheave means is located to one side and below said winch. Second sheave means is located at a relatively fixed position on the opposite side of said winch means. Finally. a third sheave means is swivelly mounted about an axis passing generally through the second sheave means. Cable spooled on the winch passes around said first sheave means and then underneath the winch to the second sheave means. From the second sheave means the cable passes to the third sheave means and thence away to the logging sheave suspended over the well bore. By virtue of the swivel mounting of the third sheave means, the cable can extend away from the hoisting structure at almost an unlimited number of directions without effect on the spooling action of the cable on the winch. Moreover, the distance from the well bore to the hoisting structure is not critical and can be dictated by conveniently available space.

The movable sheave means is mounted on a shaft in a manner to be movable from side-to-side along a curved path by the pressure of the cable as it moves from side-to-side on the winch spool. The movable sheave is spaced apart from the fixed sheave a minimum distance to ensure proper spooling action. The combination of elements in accordance with the present invention enables the mounting for the fixed sheave means to include a transducer for measuring cable tension. and the fixed sheave means itself provides a convenient drive means for a well logging recorder.

The present invention has other objects and advantages which will become more clearly apparent in connection with the following detailed description. A preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawing. in which:

FIG. I is a somewhat schematic view ofa logging truck positioned near a well bore for conducting logging operations; and FIG. 2 is an isometric view ofthe present invention to illustrate the structural details thereof.

Referring initially to FIG. I, a logging vehicle I is shown positioned in the vicinity of a well bore 11. A logging cable I2 passes over a logging sheave l3 suspended over the well bore and supports an instrument I4 within the well bore. While drilling is in progress. the sheave 13 will usually be hung from the rig elevators. while during subsequent activity such as production logging. the sheave may be suspended from a portable mast or the like. In any event. it has been conventional practice to align the longitudinal axis of the vehicle I0 to intersect the axis of the well bore II to insure proper spooling ofthe cable l2 onto and off of the winch IS without undue chafing or binding. This has further generally required that the vehicle l0 be located a considerable distance away front the well bore.

Turning now to FIG. 2. the present invention is shown as comprising longitudinally extending main frame members 16 and I7 which are joined at their forward ends by a cross brace 18. The frame members I6 and 17 can support transverse frame members to which the bed of the vehicle is fastened in a conventional manner. Additional longitudinal frame members I9 and 20 can be bolted or otherwise secured to the rearward end portions of the frame members I6 and I7 for the purpose of supporting a sheave device to be described hereafter.

The winch means I5 includes a spool 21 which is mounted for rotation on a shaft 22 which is supported on side brackets 23 and 24 on the frame members 16 and 17 by trunnions 25 or the like. A substantial length of the cable 12 is spooled onto the winch I5 and is ultimately attached to the logging instrument to be raised and lowered in a well bore. Suitable winch drive means (not shown) may be coupled to a power-take-off 26 from the transmission of the vehicle 10 in a typical manner.

A movable sheave assembly 30 is mounted on the frame members I9 and 20 and located to the rear of and below the winch 15 at the approximate level of the bed. The assembly 30 includes a transverse shaft 31 along which a sheave 32 is slidably and rotatably mounted. the shaft 3] having angle arms 33 and 34 coupled to each end which are journaled for rotation within bearing mounts 35 and 36. The particular details of the shaft and angle arm construction form no part of the present invention and are set forth in U. S. Pat. No. 3.083.932 Crowley et al. Thus it will be apparent that the shaft 31 can define various transverse axes of rotationfor the sheave 32 as it moves from side-to-side there along. As the cable 12 is spooled onto and off of the winch l5. it will naturally tend to feed from sideto-side along the spool 21, and the pressure of the cable will cause the sheave 32 to follow the transverse position of the cable during spooling. As the sheave 32 is thus moved from side-to-side. the shaft 31 can assume various axial positions as permitted by the angle arms 33 and 34. the result being that the sheave 32 can oscillate back and forth along a curved path in order to compensate for the fleet angle of the cable and thus provide for smooth and even spooling.

From the sheave 32 the cable I2 extends forward and is reeved around a second sheave mounted at a relatively fixed location on the other side of the winch device 15. A shaft 41 is coupled to rotate with the sheave 40 and is supported by upper and lower plates 42 and 43 having their one ends pivotally attached to the frame member 17 by a pin 44. The opposite ends of the plates 42 and 43 are coupled to the transverse frame member 18 by a transducer device 45 for measuring tension in the cable during well logging operations. The shaft 4] is coupled to the drive mechanism 46 of the logging recorder 47 so that measurements can be recorded as a function of depth in the well bore.

From the second sheave 40. the cable 12 is made to pass through an elongated tube 50 in a rearward direction and undemeath a third sheave 51 of the fair-leader type located at the rearward end of the tube. and thence to the logging sheave 13. The third sheave 51 is mounted by suitable means 52 for swiveling movement about the axis of the tube 50 which may be considered as passing generally through the fixed sheave 40. When not in use. the third sheave 51 may be turned to a horizontal plane and the sheave and the tube 50 pushed to a forward out-of-the-way position.

In operation, the present invention obviates the need for alignment of the longitudinal axis ofthe truck It) with the well bore as was necessary in prior art devices. Moreover. the vehicle 12 may be closely spaced to the well bore ll. Inasmuch as the cable 12 actually extends away from the truck from the swivelly mounted third sheave 5! instead of from the winch 15. it will be apparent that the truck It) may be located at \ari ous random positions with respect to the well bore with the as surance of proper spooling of the cable 12 onto the winch IS. The third sheave 51 may swivel to accommodate various degrees of angularity of the cable 12 with respect to the axis of the well bore. The length ofcable between the fixed sheave 40 and the winch 15 will remain substantially constant by virtue of the oscillating action of the shaft 31 and the sheave 32 as the sheave is moved along a curved path from side-to-sidc hy the natural spooling action of the a cable 12. It has been found in practice that the sheave 32 should be spaced away from the fixed sheave a distance equal to approximately three and onehalf times the width of the winch spool for optimum spooling action. Inasmuch as rotation of the fixed sheave 40 accurately correlates with movement of the logging instrument 14 in the well bore, the shaft 4] may be conveniently used to drive the recorder 47. Moreover, by virtue of the fact that cable tension will tend to pivot the plates 42 and 43 about the pin 44, this particular arrangement provides a convenient construction for utilizing the load transducer 45 for measuring such tension.

Although the present invention has been illustrated in connection with a ground conveyance having wheels. it will be equally apparent that the frame members could be mounted on skids for offshore drilling barge or platform usage. It will also be appreciated that the extension of the cable 12 underneath the bed of the vehicle in the manner disclosed has significant advantages for safety reasons and precludes interference of the cable with other equipment on the bed.

It will now be apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved hoisting structure for use in well logging. Since certain changes or modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the inventive concepts embodied herein, it is the inventors intention that the appended claims cover such changes or modifications falling within the true spirit and scope of the present inven tion.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for use in raising and lowering instruments in a well bore on a cable, comprising:

a generally horizontally disposed frame;

winch means mounted above said frame, said winch means having said cable spooled thereon;

a first sheave fixed to said frame to one side of said winch means for rotation about a vertical axis;

a second sheave mounted on said frame to the other side of said winch means, said cable passing from said winch means around said second sheave and then extending underneath said winch means along said frame to said first sheave;

means for mounting said second sheave in a manner to enable oscillating motion thereof along a curved path extending from side-to-side relative to said winch means and lying substantially in the plane of rotation of said first sheave. so that the extent of cable between said winch means and said first sheave remains substantially constant during sideto side movement of said cable on said winch means;

a third sheave mounted on the same side of said winch means as said second sheave and in spaced relation to said first sheave, said cable extending from said first sheave alon Y said frame and underneath said winch means to sai third sheave and then toward the well bore;

and

means for mounting said third sheave for swiveling motion about an axis passing generally through said first sheave.

Z. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a recorder. and means for driving said recorder in response to rotation of said first sheave about said vertical axis.

3. The apparatus of claim I further including means for mounting said first sheave to said frame. said mounting means comprising transducer means for measuring tension in said ca hle.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said mounting means includes horizontally disposed members having their one ends pivoted to said frame, said transducer means being coupled between the other ends of said members and said frame.

5. Apparatus for use in raising and lowering instruments in a well bore on a cable, comprising:

a generally horizontally disposed frame having a front portion and a rear portion;

winch means mounted above said frame. said winch means including a spool. said spool having said cable wound thereon;

a first sheave fixed to the front portion of said frame and to one side of said winch means;

a second sheave mounted on the rear portion of said frame and on the other side of said winch means. said cable passing front said spool around said second sheave and then extending underneath said winch means and along said frame to said first sheave;

means for mounting said second sheave in a manner to enable oscillating motion thereofalong a curved path extend ing from side-to-side relative to said winch means and lying substantially in the plane of rotation of said first sheave, so that the length ofcable between said spool and said first sheave remains substantially constant during side-to-side movement ofsaid cable on said spool;

said first sheave being spaced apart from said second sheave a distance equal to approximately three and one-half times the width ofsaid spool; and

a third sheave mounted on said rear portion of said frame, said cable extending from said first sheave along said frame and underneath said winch means to said third sheave and then toward a well bore.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a recorder;

and

means for rotatively coupling said first sheave to said recorder.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further including means for measuring the tension in said cable during raising and lowering ofthe instrument in the well bore. 

1. Apparatus for use in raising and lowering instruments in a well bore on a cable, comprising: a generally horizontally disposed frame; winch means mounted above said frame, said winch means having said cable spooled thereon; a first sheave fixed to said frame to one side of said winch means for rotation about a vertical axis; a second sheave mounted on said frame to the other side of said winch means, said cable passing from said winch means around said second sheave and then extending underneath said winch means along said frame to said first sheave; means for mounting said second sheave in a manner to enable oscillating motion thereof along a curved path extending from side-to-side relative to said winch means and lying substantially in the plane of rotation of said first sheave, so that the extent of cable between said winch means and said first sheave remains substantially constant during side-to-side movement of said cable on said winch means; a third sheave mounted on the same side of said winch means as said second sheave and in spaced relation to said first sheave, said cable extending from said first sheave along said frame and underneath said winch means to said third sheave and then toward the well bore; and means for mounting said third sheave for swiveling motion about an axis passing generally through said first sheave.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a recorder; and means for driving said recorder in response to rotation of said first sheave about said vertical axis.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for mounting said first sheave to said frame, said mounting means comprising transducer means for measuring tension in said cable.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said mounting means includes horizontally disposed members having their one ends pivoted to said frame, said transducer means being coupled between the other ends of said members and said frame.
 5. Apparatus for use in raising and lowering instruments in a well bore on a cable, comprising: a generally horizontally disposed frame having a front portion and a rear portion; winch means mounted above said frame, said winch means including a spool, said spool having said cable wound thereon; a first sheave fixed to the front portion of said frame and to one side of said winch means; a second sheave mounted on the rear portion of said frame and on the other side of said winch means, said cable passing from said spool around said second sheave and then extending underneath said winch means and along said frame to said first sheave; means for mounting said second sheave in a manner to enable oscillating motion thereof along a curved path extending from side-to-side relative to said winch means and lying substantially in the plane of rotation of said first sheave, so that the length of cable between said spool and said first sheave remains substantially constant during side-to-side movement of said cable on said spool; said first sheave being spaced apart from said second sheave a distance equal to approximately three and one-half times the width of said spool; and a third sheave mounted on said rear portion of said frame, said cable extending from said first sheave along said frame and underneath said winch means to said third sheave and then toward a well bore.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a recorder; and means for rotatively coupling said first sheave to said recorder.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 further including means for measuring the tension in said cable during raising and lowering of the instrument in the well bore. 